A Good Day To Die

Chapter 2: Contact

Viper moved to regroup with the rest of the fleet as they prepared to deliver the data while keeping a copy for themselves to decrypt. The decryption was taking quite a long time but then again they were in a new galaxy with potentially more advanced civilizations. Their gonna need to know how to decrypt potential enemy encryption as quickly as possible. "It begs the possibility that there may be some planets in this galaxy that are infested with the bugs." A bridge officer says, thinking on how others didn't know about the station infested. Dostya speaks up in the conversation. "When we get back toward the station to deliver the data, I'll scan what minds I can to see if I can receive any other useful info on any recorded infestations." "Sounds good, but also be aware if anyone has a stronger mind or the info is in a different language." Clarke warns Dostya in a caring way. "Don't worry I'll be careful... even if I can just rip it out of them." Dostya responds happily knowing full well her capabilities whilst also acknowledging potential hazards.

After they rejoin the fleet Clarke begins to open comms and hand out new orders. "Fleet set course for the planetary station, defensive formation. I don't want to leave anyone open, even if its a milk run." The fleet acknowledges and proceeds in a escort formation where all ships can lay down suppressive beam fire in case someone gets smart. After a while when the fleet nears the station, they receive a hail from their contact. "When I said investigate and retrieve the data, I didn't say to blow up the DAMN STATION! This is supposed to be a simply retrieval operation so I could let them know that the station wasn't compromised, but instead you decided to do just that." Said the human contact on the other end of the audio channel. "The station was infested with bugs and we couldn't allow someone to come across them and allow it to spread." "Bugs? What bugs and what disease do you mean? The station went dark and I was tasked to retrieve the data so it wouldn't fall into enemy hands, there was no record of an infestation." The contact sighs and speaks again. "Do you at least have the data I can send back or not?" Clarke begins to transfer one of the copies and begins to ask a question when suddenly he's interrupted by something he doesn't like. "Good now that the data is secure and the Republic will certainly be happy that their data is safe. However, you destroyed the Republic's military station I said not to, so you'll only get some star charts." Clarke grits his teeth and clenches his fists while slamming on the console that's audible through the comms. "That wasn't the deal and you said nothing about the station's destruction, not to mention you didn't know of any infestation either. I think we just saved your butts from having your planet overrun too." The contact didn't take too kindly to some outsider berating them and decided to send a transmission to any nearby fleets asking for assistance in dealing with an unknown separatist fleet. Misleading fleets wouldn't too hard, especially in wartime since Ukio just got back with the republic. Sightings of another CIS fleet in their space would provoke a response even more so with a destroyed asset in system. 

"Look I'm sorry this deal didn't pan the way out like you hoped it would, but that's what happens things happen outside the deal. Say if you stick around I might be able to convince some to honor the whole deal for your first attempt." Clarke listens to the contacts message and looks at Dostya knowing she's been searching this whole time for info, to which she just nods while muting their side. "He's lying about honoring the deal and he's preparing the station for combat." Dostya reports to Clarke about their current situation, though Clarke simply smiles and reengages the comm. "Sure we'll be grateful for your offer to attempt to solve the issue." Clarke proceeds to give hand signals to prepare for a boarding action of the station. A silent alarm runs through the fleet as they lumber into a blockade around the station in preparation for combat. "We'll just wait while you discuss with your superiors regarding our small issue that we caused." With the Clarke ends the comms and proceeds barking orders on the bridge. "General quarters and come about, all hands to battlestations and prepare for hostile boarding action. Alpha through Charlie squads suit up and prepare to board another station, we'll teach these insurgents not to cross the federation." Clarke announces over the intercom and sprints for the armory with Dostya alongside him.