Emperor Graden was thrilled with the news that two ships from Earth had gone out and destroyed three invading ships. One being the ship he'd sent to Earth and they modified. He had them land near his palace and set up a grand reception for them including media and a live band. They were heros! He got medals for the Captains and all their crew. He was going to go down to the landing pad and shake their hands personally. Earth had proved they could effectively fight back.

News of their victory was all over the planet. News media was there also when those ships landed. Watching the ships come down to land, Graden heard a news reporter relaying how the Earth modified ships hadn't hesitated, but charged right into the invader's fleet and attacked mercilessly to destroy all three invaders. They again praised Earth for helping to defend their Draco friends.

Emperor Graden led the committee of his ministers to greet the ship crews when they emerged. Upon the ship doors opening, the band began to play the Draco anthem. He noted much more than ship crews emerged. Led by the ship Captains, one was human, much of the crew came out followed by soldiers in armor and carrying their weapons. Not having helmets, the soldiers were also assisting ragged looking Dracos and another lizard type species to guide them to waiting medical assistance.

Coming up to him Captain Hashnar saluted. "Emperor, mission successful! We even picked up all the survivors that we could find."

"Well done!" Graden announced. I have medals for you and both crews." To the human Captain Graden said, "For all our people, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You have accomplished a miracle for us and proved Earth is a good friend to the Draco empire." Draden then noticed in the human's crew, there was a Draco. "You have a Draco on your crew?"

Duncan nodded. "We do, your niece Tenya Tanner. And a fine pilot she is."

Graden looked closer. It was Tenya. "Tenya flies that big, dangerous ship!" he asked in disbelief.

"Aye, and she does well." Duncan stated. "Joan taught her and Tenya is a fast learner and pays close attention. As I said, she's a fine pilot."

The thought of little Tenya driving that big human warship made Graden's jaw drop. As he stared at her, Tenya waved to him with a smile on her face. A girl, a small girl and royalty was in the human military? "Unbelievble!" Graden breathed out. "And she has taken the last name of Tanner?"

Duncan smiled. "Yes, she has. Everything I've seen of Tenya shows an intelligent, strong young woman. I am proud to know her."

Graden noted to the side, news people were focused on Tenya now. For a young Draco princess to be in the human military and operating a dangerous warship was unheard of. This was big news.

"Have you reviewed our battle report, Emperor?" Duncan asked.

The question snapped Graden's attention back to Duncan. "Yes, I have. So little Tenya drove your ship straight at the enemy, not knowing what would happen?"

"Joan was the combat pilot, but yes, Tenya was right beside her as co-pilot. She was very brave in that battle," Duncan stated.

"She's too young to be doing anything like that!" Graden said in a gasp.

Duncan shrugged. "She supports her family. About half of them are here. Tenya insisted since it was her people in danger, she had to come help. Tenya has a sharp mind, and good reflexes, and was willing to come risk her life to fight a very dangerous unknown. As I said, she is brave as well as smart. Her age doesn't matter as much as her abilities."

Graden noticed the news cameras were capturing their conversation. Even though he was appalled by the idea of Tenya being directly involved in combat, he knew he could not chastise her for being a hero in front of the news people. He announced, "Princess Tenya, We all thank you for your bravery and doing your best for our people!"

Tenya replied loudly, "You're welcome, Uncle Graden!"

.

Immediately after the official greetings and handing out medals, the news people flocked to Tanya. Seeing this, her Earth family flocked in by her also. With massive questions on why a Draco Princess was living on Earth, Tenya explained her life in Driftwood and introduced her family to the press. She explained she knew her life was very unusual for a Draco, but she loved where she was at and the people she was with. She even sang in Draco a short version of 'I won't back down' to the press stressing that they all stood together in Driftwood, no matter what. They also helped their friends and family, that was why she insisted on joining this warship crew to help beat back the invaders.

Hero Princess Tenya became an instant idol in the Draco Empire. The audacity of a very young woman let alone her royal status in going to war, shocked many as well as it showed how brave young Tenya was.

In the next few months, many female hatchlings were named Tenya in her honor. It also sparked a call for more equal rights for women in the Empire that Graden had to deal with.

.

While the Draco Empire dealt with the social upheaval of a young Princess joining the fight on a warship, Duncan and Captain Hashnar resupplied their ships and headed back out to search for more invaders. So far, they had the only two ships capable of defeating the enemy fleet. They had to get back out there.

Heading out first to the third planet these aliens had attacked, they found an alien ship there. A single MAC round destroyed it completely. Searching the ground from orbit, they and found a station that wasn't Draco. When the Draco ship hit that with a MAC round, it not only destroyed the whole station, but made a half mile wide crater, nearly a mile deep and threw debris up into the stratosphere from the explosion. Duncan noted that this was from orbit. Ship's speed also helped the launch speed of the MAC round. When their ships were traveling fast, the rounds hit with more momentum, not that 1/8th light speed out of the muzzle was in any way slow.

Not finding any other life on the surface, the two ships headed for the second planet the aliens had conquered. Having a good fix on it, Duncan convinced Captain Hashnar to approach the system from the sun side of the planet and sub light speed, only light. That would give them time to analyze the planet some and see what was there as they approached. They got their plan together. After entering the system, both ships went to battle stations.

Flying only 500 yards from each other, then passed by the sun and went as low power as possible, cutting thrust. On her screens, Jackie announced, "We have a good 17 minutes to study the planet before we get there."

Maximum magnification on the visual sensors and max sensitivity on the energy sensors, they scanned the planet.

"Two large ships in orbit, several smaller ones," Allison announced. "Getting energy sources from three places I can see."

Studying his console, Duncan said, "Aim MACs at the two large ships. Captain Hashnar, aim at the power sources on the ground. Report as soon as you're ready."

"We're 25 million out," Jackie stated. "Passing the inner planet orbit. We shoot at 15 million."

Duncan told Captain Hashnar. "We shoot together then change trajectory z minus five degrees."

"Hashnar copy. On target."

"Three minutes to fire," Jackie announced. "All guns on target."

Allison announced, "New target appeared incoming to the planet!"

"Stay on our current targets!" Duncan replied.

They stood ready for the few minutes, then Jackie ordered, "FIRE!"

The ship recoiled some as the Mac rounds all shot out of their barrels at once. Duncan ordered the course change. He closely watched the planet and saw flashes as the MAC rounds hit.

Watching her sensors, Allison announced, "Both large ships destroyed, Three of our rounds hit the surface. Ground targets hit, all three. There's smoke and debris coming off the planet."

"Turn ships to face the planet," Duncan ordered.

"Small targets moving away from the planet, "Jackie announced. "They are picking up speed and moving farther into the system."

"I got their trajectories," Allison said. "We'll be over taking them."

Duncan nodded. "Captain Hashnar, slow and look for other targets around the planet. We're going after those smaller ships."

"MAC guns on those?" Jackie asked.

Duncan grinned at her. "No, let's see how they do with a plasma broadside."

.

The fleeing ships knew someone was after them. The split apart and scattered. Duncan had his crew bear down on the one farthest away and came up behind it on his port side. The plasma guns fired as they passed it, Two volleys and that ship blew apart. The attack worked, he had the ship turned around and headed back to the planet.

Captain Hashnar got another large ship and destroyed two more ground targets by the time Duncan's ship got turned around and headed back to the planet. Slowing to circle the planet, they found a few small camps trying to hide in canyons and forest. Allison also spotted aliens running into a cave. Duncan had a single MAC round follow then into the cave. After that explosion and crater the round made, if there were any still alive, they weren't getting out.

Duncan had their ships spend two days in orbit around the planet, studying and mapping. The alien's attack on the planet had wiped out wildlife, most forests and destroyed Draco structures. His attack had caused deep, asteroid sized craters and a couple crashed remains of the ships that had been in orbit. Scattered around the planet, they did find surviving aliens and got photos of them.

This alien species were light gray colored, looked taller and skinnier than humans with big heads. The ones they could see wore silver suits. Many were gathering survivors in what looked like small medical camps. That was all they could tell by seeing them from orbit. Duncan and Captain Hashnar agreed, they had to go down there to confront these aliens.

.

Duncan picked his ground forces. Kelly was going down, but Bob was leading them. Joan and Allison wanted to go, but he insistent they stay on board. Tenya was the shuttle's pilot. Gilda was going as a possible interpreter. The shuttle was also packed with 40 terminators. The landing site was a bare area near the canyon one of the alien medical areas was in.

The briefing for the trip was in the galley that was the only place they had to put up a map of the area and fit everyone in. Malinara insisted she was also going, and got her armor and plasma rifle.

Bob explained what they were going to do. Pointing out places as he spoke he said, "We land here, in this depression. You four terminators set up a perimeter around the shuttle, Tenya stays on board. This canyon they are in is blind, only one way in and out. Gilda, Kelly, you're with me. Fifteen terminators each atop these cliffs, The last six come with me, Gilda and Kelly to the canyon entrance. Gilda will first try to get them to surrender peacefully. If they refuse, then the terminators on the cliffs drop grenades down on them and we fight our way in. Any questions?"

There were none, so Bob said, "To the shuttle, let's load up to go."

They left and headed for the surface under the watchful eye of their ship that had descended unto upper atmosphere. On their way down, Duncan told them a few more aliens were running into the canyon. They also noted more guards were coming into the canyon's mouth and setting up defensive positions.

While the terminators were outfitted with plasma guns, Bob and Kelly had .50 cal rifles.

Their descend wasn't challenged. Tenya landed them in the depression and upon the hatch opening, they poured out to get into position. Bob heard Gilda in his helmet speakers, "Robert, They are tense and afraid. I can feel that already."

"They are!" Kelly echoed. "They also know we're coming."

"Everyone, stick tight to the cliff walls," Bob replied. "If they shoot, Kelly get behind them to return fire then get back to us."

"Got it, Robert!"

Closing on the depressed entrance to the canyon, Bob creeped up enough to see just inside. He also saw silver behind a big rock. "Glilda, try to send a message, surrender and no one dies."

Gilda closed her eyes and concentrated. A moment later her eyes snapped open. "Robert, they are going to hold, but won't shoot if we don't try to enter the canyon."

Bob huffed. "Tell them we're coming in, if they shoot, so will we."

Gilda closed her eyes again briefly. "Robert, they will die before the surrender!"

Bob grumbled to himself, then said, "Clifftop Terminators near the entrance, drop one grenade each down on the inside of the entrance. Kelly, after the grenades go off, go in, get behind them and shoot into any aliens still alive until you run the clip out, then get back out here."

Bob listened. Soon he heard grenades exploding, then Kelly disappeared. Soon after that, he heard her shooting.

"Forward! Secure the entrance!" Bob announced and ran for the entrance. Kelly appeared by him. "I think I got them all," she said.

Just inside the entrance Bob scanned the canyon through his sights. A quick look showed a dozen silver suited corpses an the ground. The blood on the ground was pink. Farther down the canyon floor, a single alien stood, it's arms up and waving.

"They surrender," Gilda told him.

"Tell them to all come out, no weapons." Bob replied. "Everyone keep a close watch for any hostile movements."

Going into the canyon cautiously, Bob noted Aliens appearing, some on stretchers. Setting stretchers down, the ones carrying them lifted their arms up, showing their bare hands, six fingers splayed. Bob counted thirty five aliens of different sizes. He got the impression these were women and children.

Gilda said, "Robert, except for five wounded males, they are all females and children."

Bob keyed his long range radio. "Captain Duncan, we got 35 prisoners, five wounded. The rest are women and children."

"I read, Bob. I'll send down another shuttle outside the canyon entrance. ETA, ten minuets."

"Got it. Gilda, have them follow you to just past the entrance, then sit them on the ground to wait for the shuttle." He pointed to the terminators with him. "Your four, guard the prisoners. You two, come with me to inspect where they were." He had all the terminators on the cliffs return to the shuttle.

"Yes, Robert." Gilda replied. She pointed back towards the entrance. The aliens followed, taking the stretchers of wounded with them. On the way, Gilda noted some women were shaking in fear, others and the children were crying. She sent thought to them that as long as they did not resist, no further harm would come to them.

One tall woman asked her in thought, 'You are not a lizard. Where did you come from?'

Gilda thought back about being on Earth and the call to come help the Dracos because they were being invaded and their planets being destroyed.

The woman briefly closed her big eyes in a long blink. 'We picked the wrong enemy.'

It took longer than Duncan estimated, but two shuttles came down for the prisoners. One from their ship and one from the Dracos. Once all the prisoners were loaded up, Bob and his troops got back on their shuttle and went back up to their ship.

.

"Duncan!" Allison cried, "The Draco shuttle just dumped the prisoners they had into orbit!"

"What?" Duncan asked in a hard tone as he checked his display. Sure enough, the Draco shuttle was approaching their ship. Bodies floated in space behind them. He hit the comms to the Draco ship. "Captain Hashnar! Your shuttle just dumped prisoners into open space!"

The Draco Captain replied calmly. "They were invaders. We kill invaders."

"NOT after they surrender! Those were women and children you just dumped into space!" Duncan yelled.

"Now, there are less invaders. It is our policy to kill all invaders."

Duncan frowned at the comms unit. "Allison, Jackie, set a course for home." He then got on the comms. "It is not our policy to kill unarmed innocents, no matter WHO they are! We view what you just did as a war crime and we will not be part of it!"

"We will discuss this at end of mission." Captain Hashnar stated.

In a hard tone, Duncan replied, "We just did!"

Once the shuttles were back on board, Duncan had Joan head out and go to full speed (ludicrous speed) to head back for Earth.

.

The aliens that arrived on the ship were terrified. Gilda knew they felt the deaths of the others on that shuttle when they were dumped out into orbit. They were sure they were next to die. Gilda spent much time mentally assuring them that they were safe. Earth people did not execute those who surrendered. She even had Duncan come to assure the terrified group of aliens that they would not be harmed under his command. He told them his people did not harm prisoners of war who surrendered. He was also angry at the Draco for doing so.

Two sets of Terminators lost their 'standby' rooms to fit the prisoners on the ship. Not knowing what these aliens ate, Gilda talked mentally to them and found out their needs, and also found out they called themselves 'Charos'.

For the limits the aliens could go to on the ship, Duncan decided other than the control room, engine room, gun batteries and store rooms, the aliens had access to the galley and cafeteria, medical area and hallways beside their rooms so long as they kept the peace.

On the way back to Earth, Gilda taught the Charos how to speak English. They were still four days out from Earth when a pair of Charos women asked to speak to their captain. Duncan agreed to meet with them when he went to dinner. He also made it on an off-meal time.

Going in, he noticed the two big headed with long purple hair-big eyed gray women sat together. He took a seat across from them. "Ladies, what did you want to discuss?" he asked pleasantly.

Looking concerned, one said, "Are we going to be turned over to those lizard men? We know they will kill us."

Duncan shook his head. "No, you're not. We've seen what they do to captives and frankly, we were appalled by it. You're going to Earth with us. I'm not sure what you will face with confinement, but I promise as long as you stay peaceful, you will not be harmed. We do not harm prisoners for no reason."

The other one said, "We saw you have a lizard on your crew. Can you keep us safe from that one also?"

"Tenya is a Draco, true, but she had been living on Earth with the Tanners and knows what is acceptable to us, and what is not. You have nothing to fear from her. We are familiar with a few different species and we show them the same respect as we do with other humans. My race." Tapping a finger on the table, Duncan firmly said, "We do not judge anyone by their race or appearance, rather on how they act."

The women breathed a sigh of relief. One said, "I am called Verty. What is your name?"

Duncan held out his hand. "I'm Duncan. Pleased to meet you, Verty."

Verty shook his hand and smiled. "Please help me understand. You seem like a good male, concerned for all around you. How can you side with those lizard people?"

Duncan replied. "Our people are trade partners. They sell us goods, we sell them goods. When they said they were being invaded, of course we came to help. What we only just found out is the total disregard for your kind. I don't doubt they are going to get limits on them for how to treat prisoners they capture. That is, if they still want our help. As I said, we view executing prisoners for no reason as a war crime. Murder, if you will."

"Thank you for your compassion," Verty replied. "Do you know when we will be released back to our own people?"

"I do not," Duncan said honestly. "You may spend a short time on Earth, or a long time. It depends on many factors I do not have any information on."

Verty nodded slowly. "The two males we have that are wounded, your people have been helping to care for them, which we thank you for. Your sustenance is also compatible with ours. Other than superficial looks, your race appears to be close to Charos."

"I can see there are similarities between us, yes," Duncan agreed.

"Then why are you helping the lizard race?" she asked.

Duncan eyed her. "It's not the Draco who are doing the invading. As I said, we do have a mutual trade agreement with them and live with them in peace. This incident of dumping your people into space is the first real problem we've had with them. It will be addressed as soon as we reach Earth."

The other woman said, "You do truly interact on how species behave and not on how they look. I am Pinya."

Duncan cast her a brief smile. "Pleased to meet you, Pinya," he said and extended his hand. She shook it. Duncan let out an exaggerated huff and said, "I have things to attend to. Is there anything else either of you would like to know?"

"You have addressed our immediate concerns, thank you," Verty said.

Duncan got up. "Then have a good day, ladies."

Once Duncan left, they reverted to their native language. Verty said, "These hu-mans are complicated creatures. They came and destroyed our outposts and decimated our ships, yet them seem agreeable also."

"They do," Pinya agreed. "I suggest we all stay on our best peaceful behavior. These hu-mans are pleasant, but also capable of great violence. Their mechanoids are also powerful and intelligent. We do not want to instigate them."

.

Reaching Earth, Duncan stayed in orbit while he transmitted the events of their trip. He transmitted the sensor readings of the Draco shuttle ejecting their Charos prisoners into open space and insisted this be brought up to the Draco. He also asked where to put these Charos prisoners.

He was directed to house them in Driftwood. It figured.

Landing at the air base in Driftwood, a crowd had come to see them home. Although they had only been gone a couple weeks their time, they had been away from Earth for two months. The Sheriff had gotten a school bus for the Charos prisoners. As for a place to put them, he had gotten use of some unoccupied houses near the north west end of the big lake. Bob and Joan agreed, the area was vacant and the chance of them trying to escape was minimal. They had no where else to go.

After greeting of the rest his housemates upon exiting the ship, Bob got everyone piled into their cars and the Charos onto the bus and drove back to the big lake. By now, the wounded Charos men were able to walk on their own. Following Bob up to the few vacant houses at the other end of the lake, he got on the bus an explained that these were now their houses to live in. He also explained they could grow their own food, or do jobs to get food. He also stressed there were intelligent creatures living in the lake, so boats they used had to be rowed by hand or use sails to keep from running over any mers.

One of the male Charos that bore a belly bandage and another on his leg asked, "What is the limit to our movements?"

Bob replied, "These six houses and the immediate area is yours to do with what you want. If you're asking about how far you can go from them, As far as the limit you can travel from them, there is no defined limit. This is wild territory, so if you wander too far away, you may run into animals that might kill you, so it's best to stay near your houses and keep a watch out for danger. Some houses have fences around them, some don't. I'll bring tools for you to grow your own food if you like. Our place is down the lake at the big hotel. If you need assistance, the Sheriff or his secretary will be coming to check on you. We will also. We're not going to leave you without support."

"We were expecting to be in a prison," Verty said.

Bob shrugged. "What would be the point? You'll be safer here than out in the wilderness, plus where would you go? Remember, you're on Earth, light years away from your homes. For your own safety, use these houses as your own and make this area your own village."

"This is very strange confinement," the male said.

"Would you rather be in a confined area with a big fence all around you?" Bob asked.

A few Charos chuckled.

Bob told them, "I'll be going down to the town soon. Think about what tools and provisions you want, and when I come back, I'll take a couple of you down to get what you need. I'll be back later today. See you then."

After he left, the Charos inspected their surroundings. The houses were made of wood and vacant but in good shape. With the hills and the big lake, it felt more like they were on vacation instead of being prisoners on an alien planet.

"I can get used to this," Verty said as she looked over the lake.

The male, Kelnac, said, "The Hu-man did have a point, there is no reason to try an escape when our confinement is in a place of paradise. We follow their rules and we'll be safe and as comfortable as we can be. Start making the list of items we need for when he gets back."

Verty took on a thoughtful look and said, "Besides the hu-man rules of staying in our area, the only other rules we have to live by are the ones we make." She then smiled.

.