Chapter 1: Earth

It turned out we did not return to our homeport, Richter 4. We received new orders just as we returned to the M-0 galaxy.

A Commodore of Fleet HQ and with all the necessary codes and credentials had appeared on our screen and transmitted new orders.

According to him, the Admiral of the Fleet was busy and gave him the necessary instructions. The man was a tall Andorian and told me quite openly that he disagreed with the Admiral to contact a little destroyer himself anyway. His name was Commodore Haraka and he said.”I have no idea where the USS Tigershark came from so suddenly, but you are assigned to the 124th fleet and will proceed to Christmas Base and stand by for new orders.” He terminated the call, but not before saying: “Richter Base? Ridiculous every one knows, there is nothing really there.”

We did manage to reach Cherubim and she laughed at our predicament, then she said.”The transfer is temporary for sure and even an oversight perhaps, but the Admiral of the Fleet did indeed transfer the Tigershark to the 124th, God only knows why he thinks the Tigershark is going to be good as a regular fleet unit, but he is the highest authority in that regard. Nothing I can do and the 124th isn’t the First.” She still seemed amused.”No worries Richard will ask about you soon enough.”

Only a week had passed since we got these new orders. The Tigershark was traveling just a notch under red line towards the distant Spinward sector.

I had just come off watch and leisurely proceeded to our Den for a bite to eat and a cup of fresh coffee. We just returned to Union space and there was nothing on the scanner horizon concerning us.

As always there were people there.

With a screech, Fafnir untangled himself from Alice who had apparently played with our mascot and it winged across the former hangar. The black dragon-like thing had again grown in size and it took quite some effort to hold it.

After a few scratches and Alice complaining, with a laugh, about the not so little beast’s loyalties. Fafnir wormed himself out of her embrace and flapped back and divebombed the pretty, big-eyed girl sitting on the floor. She said between pearling laughter of delight, as the thing tried to lick her with its long black tongue. “Everyone loves Fafnir, but he is truly loyal to one person, and that is you.”

I grinned back while I made my way to my accustomed chair.”Naturally, this is my SHIP and I am the captain.”

O’Connell did not fail. Not that I had any idea how she actually did it. She appeared right behind me with my ugly skull mug filled with steaming coffee.

Moments later our Elly chef came in, carrying a big platter.”Just on time captain. I have roast beef, just as good as Fangsnapper, I promise.”

“I am certain it is so, Mr. Eeeryt.”

I began eating a few moments later and nodded.”It is indeed so, delicious.”

Only now did our chef move and tooted.”Thank you, captain, I have cherry-cobbler in the oven. Old fashioned made from scratch and baked.”

“If I find some room, I have a slice.”

He left in a busy fashion, almost running into Har-Hi who came along with Krabbel.

My XO and my navigator came to the table and helped themselves to food.

I looked across the table.”It is good to have you back, Mr.TheOther.”

“There are plenty of Drones now, to replace me, captain. All of them eager to serve this ship and you.”

“You didn’t just say that, right?”

“Captain being lost in that construct, I never lost hope or confidence you would come for me. I am a Y’All, part of the fiercest foe the Union faced, but here aboard this ship I am TheOther and have friends.I...”

“Oh shut up, TheOther and eat. That roast beef is excellent. Of course, we don’t give up on friends.”

Har-Hi scooped himself an extra helping of mashed potato and said.”What is still on my mind, do you remember that Pepino, Plostrak? Wasn’t he with you? Whatever happened to him?”

TheOhter stopped piling meat on his plate. “I glued him to the deck plates of the Traa, his ship and...”

Har-Hi ate a spoon of mashed.” ... and?”

An arm-long worm, most of its head covered with gravy appeared over the rim of the table.”Heeze forgoz ... Pepinoz Plostraz, shipz and everyzin ... boomz!”

TheOther despite being a Y’All looked troubled and embarrassed.”He was a criminal perhaps, but I talked to him. The Pepino didn’t ask to be created and then declared waste.”

“Theyze noz evenz gooz to eaz, Meeze eatz everyvonz. Pepinoz bleeh.” The worm sticking a big piece of meat in his teeth covered maw.”Cookz ze meatz izz gooz!”

Our chef came back, carrying a covered pan.”That thing there spends all his time in the galley and eatz ... danged no I start ... I mean eats all the food waste. I don’t know where he puts it.”

“Wanz Meeze to showz you. Ize notz gooz and stinz.”

I almost choked on my food.”Should I ask where he gets rid of stuff?”

Wheeze spread his thin arms.”Waz noz eazy zo finz darkz placez.”

Har-Hi just had mashed potato coming out of his nose as he turned even redder than he usually was.”TheOther I think you need to get your worm friend toilet trained.” Then he burst out laughing. “Lez hopez our Captain or anyone else steps into ... well dark corners.”

Circuit came in, and while he had a never-changing face, he was not happy.”Can someone tell me, who used Service crawl space 56-12 for a bathroom?”

I burst out.”Ize donz knowz.”

SHIP chimed in.”Sorry to interrupt, but Fleet Command just hailed. We are to change course for Earth. It appears Admiral Stahl gets married and you are invited, Captain.”

It was never really loud in the Sphere of Assembly, but there was always a din of voices and always someone’s voice amplified speaking about some issue.

Right now, one could have heard a Condo-mouse sneeze, all up in the most distant alcove. It was dead quiet.

A column of Y’All warrior drones was stomping in.

Egill counted and whispered.”There are at least 250 of them.”

“Incorrect there are 260 and there are 44,732 more outside.”

“They are all armed and in full armor! Why isn’t First Guard doing something?” A Saran representative said.

Egill answered.”Because it is Admiral Stahl leading them in, and they are on the docket.”

The Saran pulled up his PDD and flipped through the list. “A delegation of Yahha Al is supposed to make a membership request ... Yah-ha Al ... Y’All?”

The Saran turned as he wanted to say more to the old man from Nilfeheim, but Egill was gone.

The Neo Viking reappeared in his Alcove along with the Narth. Alegar was already there.

“What is going on?” Egill asked as he sat down.

“The Eternal Warrior is about to speak,” Alegar answered.

The Speaker of the Assembly, the same size reduced Avatar of a Bandrupo had just given Stahl the permission to address the Assembly.

The Admiral said.”Citizens of the Union, I have just returned from the Leo II galaxy and while there are certainly more challenges and enemies beyond our horizons. I am here to report to all of you, the Y’All source has been found and eliminated. There will be no new invasion.”

The Y’All threat had been a looming one, and the very reason for so many projects trying to find the reason for the invasions and somehow stop the next one.

While almost everyone was confident, the Union would be victorious. The cost of such a war was unimaginable. The Y’All created a terrible path of destruction before.

The Wurgus rep rose from his seat, these gifted sun engineers sacrificed their own sun to stop the Y’All.

“We were confident that it will be you, Eternal Warrior that finally ends this looming threat. These ... these Y’All with you, are prisoners of war?”

“It was not me, Patriarch Kurusun. The place, the Crucible that churned out the Y’All and their hardware has been destroyed. It has been found and destroyed by a great hero and her unequaled crew. Due to restrictions placed on me by my superiors and by necessity I can not reveal her identity at this point.”