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“In two hours we will pass the heliopause of the Mopu system,” Brooks said to his assembled officers.

He’d called them all suddenly, after they’d all submitted their readiness reports.  He’d said little, only that he wished to discuss them in-person.

But none of them missed the fact that Ambassador Decinus was not present.

“Jaya, how are our combat capabilities?” Brooks asked.

“All weapons are functional, save for PDC-127, which had a malfunction of a loading mechanism.  Its absence will leave no appreciable gap in our defense, and we expect to have it back in operation before we surface.”

Brooks nodded.  “And munitions?”

“All racks are full, Captain, and all conveyors operational.  The coilguns are fully ready, and all tests have shown nothing but green across the board.  If there is a fight, we will be able to keep up sustained offense or defense.”

“Excellent.  Sulp, how are the production units?”

“All converted to munition setting,” the man grumbled.  “We can pump out fifty-two missiles a minute for seven hours straight, if necessary.  PDC rounds we can produce half a million per hour, for seventeen hours without expected malfunction.  Current stocks on both are entirely full.”

Brooks nodded, then turned to look first to Dr. Y, then Cenz.  “Have you modified the emergency drones as ordered?” Brooks continued.

“Yes, Captain,” Cenz answered.  “We have augmented our medical drone fleet with a portion of my department’s survey drones.  We can scan for biological or chemical weapons of nearly any type.”  He hesitated.  “Do you truly believe that the Hev would be so vile as to attempt to use such weapons against us in the event of violence, Captain?”

“Yes,” Brooks replied.  “Kai, what is the status of Response?”

“Fifteen core units are in ready status and in position, Captain.  The other five are in reserve and can be deployed rapidly.  I have one third of all Volunteer units at ready stations for emergency situations.”

“And they’ve been drilling for the potential combat scenarios I ordered?” Brooks asked.

Like Cenz, Kai looked concerned over the specific orders she’d been given.  But she did not question it.  “Yes, Captain.”

“All other departments?” Brooks asked, his eyes going over the rest of his officers.

“Engineering is a go,” Cutter said.

“Nav is a go.”

“Flight is a go.”

“Com is a go.”

“Admin is a go.”

Urle looked to Brooks.  “All departments report ready, Captain,” he stated.  The formality logged into the ship’s black box.

“These preparations seem above and beyond,” Urle then noted.  “What makes you think we may need precautions like this, sir?  Aren’t the Maig aware of our arrival?  With all due respect, sir, we are here for diplomacy – not war.”

“They’ve been informed, and our initial overtures have been accepted,” Brooks agreed.  “But I am not here for diplomacy.  That is Ambassador Decinus’s job, and I will leave it to him.  My goal is to make sure that we do what we have to – for our ship, for the Union, and for N’Keeea’s people.  Within our orders, of course.”

“Do you think there are elements within the Maig forces that will be willing to go against their word and attack?” Eboh asked.

“Command structure within Hev fleets can be shaky and flexible,” Brooks replied.  “Or completely shuffled around with internal coups.  It is quite possible that by the time we surface, they will have decided that we are not welcome.  Or a faction commander might see attacking us as a way to grab for more power.”

“But biological or chemical attacks?  That’s condemned by every government – it seems insane to think the Maig would use such tactics.  The days of using crop-dusting drones to carry such weapons to civilian areas hasn’t been done since the twenty-first century!”

“Every major government,” Brooks corrected.  “But the Maig are in none of those treaties.”

He let his eyes sweep across the room.  “The Maig have declared the Tul to be H’ – that is, that they are to be exterminated.  It is more than even a promise to them; in their minds, the Tul are already dead.  Every single one of them, even a newborn just coming into the world.  With this, they are not only announcing how they view the Tul, but how they view the universe; their way of life does not allow for mercy or compassion.  It is about their survival and prosperity, and no one else even comes second.

“And so if they decide to attack us, they will not do it half-heartedly.  There will be no rules.  They will recognize no non-combatants, and the battle is only ended when one side is annihilated.  If it comes to it, they will use any weapon they have, and to do anything less would be unthinkable.

“I hope that Ks’Kull will not be that foolish, because it will precipitate a bloodbath – after us, it will be him, because the Union will not accept our deaths quietly.  I think Ks’Kull knows this, and this is the only reason he will not attack.  But I will not let my guard down.  What the Hev lack in quality, they more than make up for in quantity.  And our technological advantage only exists if we are ready to use it – so we will be ready.”

He looked at his officers again, studying their faces, their thoughts exposed on them, and in their eyes.

Jaya understood his words.  Cutter did – his kind had fought many of their own wars in ancient eras to the bitter end.  Likewise with Sulp and Y, who understood the cold arithmetic of space-faring civilizations who lived on a razor’s edge.

But the rest did not.  Urle and Cenz the least.  The latter, he knew, would never understand these ways.  He was too unique from a species like humanity or the Hev to ever understand genocide.

And Urle . . . he was simply too good a man to truly understand it, however much he might hear the words and believe he comprehended their true depth.  It was, Brooks thought, a blessing in a way.

“Captain,” Urle said again.  “How do you feel so confident in your assessment?”

“From experience,” he said.

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