Tales from New Terra

Chapter 4: Stranger in a Strange Land

Chapter 4: Stranger in a Strange Land

Dukesport, Republic of New Terra
February 12, 51 After Arrival, 03:37

Despite the early hours of the morning, the harbor of Dukesport Joint Forces Base was abuzz with activity. The New Terran military had locked it down eight days prior, and scrambled to erect quarantine facilities for the aliens seeking asylum within their borders. Technicians wearing nuclear-biological-chemical suits scurried about conducting final checks while Marines in full power armor stood guard to ward off any curious civilians that might've been awake.

Off in the distance, foghorns blared out as an odd flotilla of ships approached Dukesport. In the lead was the Norad, a sleek, stealthy, trimaran missile destroyer that was the first of its class and current flagship of the fledgling New Terran Navy . Flanking the Norad, and the rest of the flotilla, were several Mk. 3 hydrofoil patrol boats, moving at just a fraction of their blistering 70-knot cruising speed. Within the protective cordon of the New Terran ships, was a sight that appeared straight out of a history textbook. Four alien ships bearing striking resemblance to 400 year old light cruisers from Earth sailed alongside a smattering of civilian vessels. A steamship oddly reminiscent of Earth's RMS Titanic, a number of paddleboats, a few fishing barges, and even a couple of wooden sailing ships moved with their escorts.

Foghorns blared once again as tugboats guided the flotilla into Dukesport. The few civilians with the requisite security clearance present gawked at the strange juxtaposition of sleek, hydrogen-fueled warships moored alongside anachronistic steamships and sailboats. Marines hauled airlocked gangways into position, and radioed Dukesport's military command center to confirm that they were secured.

A harsh, mechanical voice boomed out in the natives' tongue. "Attention aliens. You have arrived at Dukesport in the Republic of New Terra, and are under our protection. For your safety and ours, please disembark from your ships and form a queue where you will be processed for quarantine. Thank you for your cooperation."

A few brave souls stepped off their ships into the airlocks, where they were promptly blasted with aerosolized disinfectant. Most stayed put, fearing that their mysterious saviors weren't really saviors at all.

Despite having just faced down a Lourian battlecruiser a few days prior, Captain Loras Farlan was scared. That same battlecruiser was nearly vaporized by what he could only assume was the forces of the Republic of New Terra. In his decades of service with the Qua-Toynian Navy, he had never seen a ship of that size sink so quickly. If these Terrans wanted to kill him, they could do so with a snap of their fingers. All it would take was a single shot from the hulking metal monsters standing guard around the ships. So why didn't they? Farlan saw two possibilities: they genuinely wanted to help, or they wanted to enslave his people.

A chill ran down Captain Farlan's spine. Had he just escaped the frying pan, only to land in a blazing inferno? No, that wasn't possible - if they did, those steel beasts would already be grabbing his brethren off their ships. He made up his mind, and turned to face his crew.

"Comrades! Men of the Qua-Toynian Navy! We all swore an oath to defend our countrymen in times of need! It is up to us to give them the courage to face our unknown saviors! Disembark, and present yourselves as honorable soldiers of Her Majesty!"

-----

New Terra City, Capital District
At the same time:

President Tyler Bennet was about to pass out. He had been awake for over twenty Tarsonis-standard hours, and had been grilled by the Senate for three-quarters of that time. News of first contact with the planet's natives had leaked to the public within hours of Bennet ordering a strike against the unknown hostile vessels. Most of the public supported his use of force to protect the alien refugees, but a sizable portion of the population questioned his ability to unilaterally order military action. That was enough for the Senate to haul him into the defunct colony ship Argo, now serving as the seat of the New Terran Republic's legislative body, for a nearly two week long hearing on whether he overreached his authority as President.